JUMBUNNA AT UN PERMANENT FORUM

By Matthew Walsh

Photo courtesy of UN. The Permanent Forum (2018)

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, was held from April the 16th to the 27th.

This year Jumbunna attended the Permanent forum for the first time as an Academic Institution. This year’s theme was “Indigenous peoples’ collective rights to lands, territories and resources” a subject that has been discussed, advocated for and fought for by Jumbunna for a number of years.

It is inspiring to see the sophistication of First Nations in the International forum as they seek justice and assert self-determination against the sheer volume of injustice taking place. To hear as one of the opening addresses President Evo Morales of Bolivia, the first Indigenous person elected as President in the republic, a message on self-determination and the success of multi-pluralism of coloniser and first peoples law and government was inspiring.

An inspiring space at the forum and a driver for the proliferation of thought and exchange of ideas took place at the UNPFII side events. These events included conversations around the standing rock campaign and the use of social media as a tool for correcting the false narratives of police forces (see this link) as just one example.

Alarmingly many nation states continue to place that they are doing good work, despite much evidence to the contrary. The story portrayed in relation to child welfare in particular is at odds with the realities of many of many communities.

As part of our expansion into the International advocacy space Jumbunna wishes to reaffirm its commitment to facilitating that the truth be told. In the coming years we hope to, through the transmission of voices from community to the UNPFII shine a light on the truth.

If you would like more information on the UNPFII or UNDRIP in 2018 follow any of the following links: